Remote control system



'REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM Original Filed Oct. 1 .1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l POLAR/ZED IMF-- HarryEHershsH July 14, 19351. H. E. HERSHEY 1,814,385

REMOTE C ON TROL SYS TEN Original Filed Oct. 11, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 D5 srs pms WEE SW/ TCIl/A/ POLAR/ZED POLAR/ZED 1m Harry E. Hi! 51159 Patented 14, 1931 v UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE BARRY E. HEBBHEZ OII' OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB '10 AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC INC., 01' CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEI Original application fled October 11, 1928, Serial No. 140,777. Divided and this application filed April 24,

1929. Serial 170. 857,890.

This invention relates in general to remote control systems, more particularly to such systems in which one of a plurality of switching devices in a remote station can be selectively'operated by a dispatcher in a central station, and the supervision of that operation being instantly given. The principal object of the invention, briefly stated, is the production of a new and improved remote control system, in which a greater speed and accuracy of operation is obtained, and in which a printed record is made of the various operations performed together with the date and time of their successful performance.

In accordance with a further object of my invention, I provide a printing recorder consisting of a clock recorder arranged to stamp the date and hour, and in addition, I provide a circuit designating wheel which is rotated step-by-step in synchronism with the selecting switches of the system, so that when the printing recorder is operated, a printed copy is made of the circuit or device which was operated and the date and time of such operation.

-This a plication is a division of application Senal No.'140,777, filed October 11, 1926.

Further objects and features not specifically mentioned will be apparent from the detailed description and claims which follow.

The drawings comprising Figs. 1 and 2,

when arranged with Fig. 2 to the ri ht of Fig. 1 with correspondingly numbere lines in alignment, show sufficient details to enable a clear understanding of m invention. The apparatus shown in Fi 1 an that shown to the left of the dotted 'ne, Fig. 2, comprises the equipment at the dispatchers station. The equipment to the right of the dotted line in Fig. 2 comprises the equipment at the substation, that equipment being connected to the dispatchers station over the trunk comprising conductors 115, 118 and 260.

Referring now to Fig. 1 in more detail, it will be seen that I have provided a group of keys comprising keys Kl-K6, inclusive, throu h which the positionin and operating 0 the dispatchers switc 1 DS is conlamp group comprises a red lamp to designate the closed position of the associated apparatus, a whitelamp to designate that that apparatus has changed its position, a green lamp to designate-the open position of that apparatus, and an amber or White lamp to give indications when the wipers of the dispatchers switch DS are resting upon the particular circuit. In connection. with each circuit of the s stem, I have provided a polarized relay, suc as relay 14, that relay being operated to directly control the signal lamps. The preferred type of relay for this use is a polarized relay in which the relay is polarized by a permanent magnet and operated by one or more electro-magnets to move the armature in one or the other of its two positions. The relay is so constructed that its armature will remain in' the position to which it was last set after the operating current through the electro-magnets has been shut off by means of the permanent magnet. In Fig. 1, I also show the printing recorder 22 which comprises a clock mechanism 24 and a circuit recording wheel 25. The circuit recording Wheel 25 is operated in synchronism with the dispatchers switch DS, preparing it to print t e circuit number or name of any device which is operated, upon the recorder tape. The clock mechanism prints the date and the hour of the circuit operations. In Fig. 1, I also show the power supply and supervisory equipment 23, which consists of the three main battery bus-bars 90, 95, and 96, the alarm bu "'-bars 91 and 99; and the battery sup ly bus-oars 92 and 100 which are connecte to the main bus-bars thiough fuses 93 and 97, respectively. The po ver supply for the system of my invention comprises positive and negative batteries each of about fifty volts potential, connected tpgether, the junction eing grounded .to

, to the relays at the dlsplatchers station, difform a neutral. In Fig. 1 the main bus-bar 90 is the negative bus-bar and the main busbar 96 is the positive bus-bar. The negative supply bus-bar 92, which is fused to main bus-bar 90 is hereinafter designated as N, and in order to simplify the drawings as much as possible, all connections to this busbar are terminated in a small circle marked with an N. Similarly the positive bus-bar 100 is designated as P and all connections thereto terminated in a circle marked with a P. The neutral or Y bus-bar is grounded and connections thereto are terminated in a circle marked with a Y. The supervisory relay 9 is associated withthe power supply unit to operate certain supervisory equipment to apprise the operator of a blown fuse,

in a manner which will be hereinafter explained. In Fig. 1, I also show the relay groups and switches which are instrumental in controlling the dis atchers switch DS.

Referring now to ig. 2, I show there the dispatchers switch DS, comprising the magnet 201 and the wipers 221 to 224, inclusive. This switch is preferably a rotar line switch of the Strowger system, such as is shown and explained in the second edition of the book Automatic Telephony by Smith and Campbell in the paragraph beginning of pa e 52. This switch mechanlsm, which 1s familiar to one skilled in the art, consists of a plurality of double ending wipers which have access to rows of contacts appearing in a semi-circular bank, there usually being twenty-five contacts in each row of the bank. The wiper assembly of this switch, which may include from one to six'wipers, is advanced step-by-ste by a motor magnet and armature, the mechanism beingso arranged that the wipers are advanced when the magnet'isdeenergized and the armature retracted rather than when the magnet attracts the armature. In Fig. 2, I also show a station switch SS which is similar in construction to the switch DS. Since the switches DS and SS each have twenty-five contact sets, amazimum of twenty-four separate switching circuits can be controlled thereby. The twentyfifth contact set is used as a home position, through which non-switching circuits are completed, for purposes which will be hereinafter explained. Accessible through the wipers o the switch SS are a plurality of polarized relays, such as relay 205 for example, those relays being mechanically similar fering therefrom in t at they are so arranged that they do not remain in the position to which they were last set when the current through the electro-magnet dies away. In Fig. 2, I show a plurality of power switchlng devices re resented by squares 'l hese power switchin devices may be an one of a number of we 1 known devices sue as circuit breakers, .gov-

at the topernor controls, gauge controls, or load metering devices. The exact type or description of this power switching ap aratus does' not form an essential part of t is invention and I have, therefore, chosen merely to represent such apparatus by symbol. Associated with each of the apparatuses to be controlled are a group of springs having a main spring which rests against one contact when the switching device is in its closed position and against another contact when the switching device is in its open position. These s rin are so adjusted that the main spring rea away from the one contact before it ma close its circuit with the other contact. In ig. 2, I also show a plurality of manual keys, through the operation of which an attendant at the substation can isolate the substation from the dispatchers station and controlit manually. I also show magneto telephones T1 and T2 which are connected through the normal positions of the switches DS and SS to the trunk conductors between the two stations, so that the dispatcher and the attendant at the substation carry on telephone conversation if they so desire.

In Fig. 2, I also show the substation main bus-bars 280 and 285 to which the negative bar as Y, in order to avoid an unnecessaryv complication of the figure.

The operation of'the system of my invention is in general quite similar to that of other remote control systems of which I am aware, A

but differs therefrom in several important features as will'be apparent from'the detailed description which follows. When the system is normal, that is neither employed to control a switch at the substation nor to give the dispatcher automatic supervision of the switches at the substation, the wipers of switch DS and SS stand in what I term a home position, that being the position in which they are shown on the drawin s.

With the wipers in this position, the te ephonesv T1 and T2 are connected to permit communications between the two stations. Each switching device at the substation, such as 244 and 247, is in one of its two positions, either 0 en or closed, and the keys associated with t ose switching devices at the dis atchers station, are thrown to a correspon ingiosition. That is key K4 which is associate with the switching-device 244 is shown thrown to the device closed posiand the device 244 is tion on the drawin s,

5. Similarly the key K6 assumed to be close -'vice 247 with which it is associated is assumed to be in its closed position. At the I d'ispatchers ofiice the lamp 80R which is assoclated with device 244 will be lighted to designate that that device is closed and similarly lamp 81R will be lighted todesignate that the device 247 is closed. The polarized relays 14 and 15 will be set as shown on the drawings. Under these conditions, relay 4, relay 8, and relay 210, will be maintained energized for the purpose which will be hereinafter explained.

The system of my invention is arranged to handle two main kinds of signals, that is directive signals in which case the dispatcher selects a particular device at the substation and operates it, the system returning supervision to apprise him of the correct operation of that selector device. The system is also arranged for supervision of the automatic operation of a device at the substation. Assume for example that the breaker 244 automatically opens itself responsive to an unusual loadcondition. That breaker upon going out, opens the circuit of relay 210 permitting that relay to fall back and close its circuit for the pick-up relays of the dispatchers station to cause the dispatchers station DS and the secondary switch SS to rotate over their banks. As the two switches are advanced step-by-step, testing wiper of the switch SS tests for the polarity of the contact associated with each of the devices in the substation. If the device has not changed its position, the polarity is picked up bythe testing wiper and will be the same as that which was picked u by it when it swept over its bank previous y, and no change will take place. When a device which has, changed its position is reached, the test wiper picks up an opposite polarity, which operates polarized relay at the dispatchers ofiice associated with that partic ular device. The operation of the polarized relay opens the chain circuit of relay 4, permitting that relay to fall back and close the circuit for the magnet 10 of the printing recorder. The deenergization of relay 4 opens a point in the stepping circuit of the switch DS, preventing that switch from stepping off the contacts on which it is resting until the printing recorder has had time to operate.

After a brief interval, the relay 4 is again again operated to make a record of that operation.

If the dispatcher desires to select a particular device at the substation, he first operates the selecting key associated with that de-.

vice, responsive to which operation the switches DS and SS ste in synchronism until their wi rs are line on the contacts associated wit the operated key. After the switching device has been selected, there are two possible operations that the dispatcher can perform upon it. These operations are controlled by a double throw operating key,

which is arranged to close the switching device when thrown in one direction and to open it when thrown in the other direction.

As soon as the switching device has been operated, supervisory circuits changed by it cause a change in the position of the polarized relay associated with the superviso equi ment of that device, to a prise the dispatcher of the successful comp etion of the switching function and to operate the rintin recorder to record the circuit num er an the time of operation. The dispatcher then releases his device selecting key, whereupon the switches DS and SS step their wipers into the home position.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that the successful operation of the system depends upon the two switches DS and SS being in step at all times. When the two devices reach their home position, a circuit is completed to the wipers of the switches to light a home position supervisory lamp, which informs the operator that the selecting switches are properly aligned upon their respective home position contacts. If when the dispatcher starts to select a particular device at the said station, he notices that this home osition supervisory lamp is not lighted, he ows that the selecting switches are not pro erly aligned and, therefore, he cannot per orm the desired operation. To remedy this condition, the dispatcher will operate an aligning key, which energizes the motor magnet of one of the stepping devices without energizing the motor magnet of the other, by which arrangement he can align the two switches upon their home position.

Fuse alarms are provided to apprise the dispatcher of a blown fuse either in his own station or in the substation. Connected to the fuse alarm bus-bars are supervisory relays, which control circuits for a bell or buzzer which sounds to inform the dispatcher of the blown fuse. The circuits are so arranged that when the fuse at the dispatchers station is blown, the signal sounds constantly, and when the fuse at the substation blows the signal sounds intermittently.

In order to permit an attendant at the substation to isolate a device from the control of the dispatcher and to o crate that device, two keys are provided individual to each device in 'the substation. 'In an out position, lamps are provided so that the attendant at the substation may know'the'condition of each device in the switching station. 'Although the operation of these key setsisolates the particular device from the control of the dispatcher, it does not isolate the de-.

vice from-the supervision of the dispatcher, the supervisory circuits being so arranged that the corresponding supervls'ory lamps at the dispatcher s station are operated whenever the attendant at the substation operates a device.

Having thus described my invention in general, I will now proceed with a detailed description of its operation.

Selecting switches in their home position to the winding of relay 8 to the P bus-bar.

Relay 8 is maintained energized over this circuit, and at springs 43 closes a circuit from the grounded Y through conductor 129 and the home position, supervisory lamp 82 to the P bus-bar. The lamp 82 is lighted over this circuit to inform the dispatcher that the control switches are properly ali ed upon their home positions. At the su station, relay 210 is maintained energized over a normall closed'chain circuit, extending from the bus-bar through springs 245 of the switching device 244, conductor 267, which extends through similar springs on all of the switching devices in the substation, through conductor 267, through the s rings 234, the winding of relay 210, to the busbar. It will be noted that the springs in this chain, such as spring 245 for example, maintain a point in the circuit closed regardless of the position in which they are set, that is the switching device maintains the chain closed except when it is in the act of changing its position. A second similar chain is maintained at the dispatchers position, extendin from the Y' bus-bar through spring of t e polarized relay 14 through conductor 141, and thence throu h similar springs on all of the other polarized relags in the oflice to conductor 142, through t e s rings 34, through relay 4, to the P bus-bar. 'l he relay 4 is maintained energized over this circuit for a purpose which will be hereinafter explained.

' tomcat Dispatcher selects circuit c Assumihg that the p eidssis to perform a switchi operation h u switching device .244 of the substation, ea;

will select that device by throwing the ke K3, which will associate his apparatus with the device 244 through circuit #1 by the switches DS and SS stopping on the first contact accessible to the wipers off the switches. Operation of key.K3 closes springs parallel paths, first, through conductor 114,

springs 52, conductor 132, through the winding of relays 12 and 13 in series to the P busbar, and second, through springs 220, the conductor 115, through the winding of rela 203 to the P bus-bar. .Relays 12 and 13 an 203 energize over this circuit, relay 12 to remove the N bus-bar potential from the operating conductor 134 of the dispatchers key set,

relay 13 to remove the P bus-bar otential from the operating conductor 133 o the dispatchers key-set, and relay 203 to close the circuit at spring 211 from the Y bus-bar through relay 202 to the P bus-bar and a second circuit through the winding of motor magnet 204 of the selector switch SS to the P bus-bar. Relay 202 and magnet'204 energize over these circuits, the former to open at spring 225 a point in the home position, control circuit, for a purpose which will be hereinafter explained. Magnet 204, upon energizingv pre ares to advance the wipers 226 and 227 of t e switch SS one step, that advance being made when the armature retracts. Magnet 204 at springs 212 closes a circuit from the Y bus-bar'through conductor 118, through spring 67 and its make contact, through the winding of relay 1 to the P busbar, energizing the relay 1. Relay 1 upon pulling up closes a circuit from the Y busbar through springs 30, thence over parallel paths, the one through the motor magnet 11 of the printing recorder to the P bus-bar, and the second over conductor 131, springs 36, conductor 112 throu h the winding of motor magnet 201 oi .the dispatchers switch DS to the P bus-bar, energizing those magnets preparatory to advancing their respective switches one step. When magnet 201 ener- 'gizes at springs 220, it opens the circuit just traced to relay 203, ermitting that relay to fall back and open the circuit of magnet 204 at springs 211. Magnet 204 falls back advancing the wipers 226 and 227 one step, and

Ill

at springs 212 openin the circuit just traced for the relay 1. Re ay 1 accordingly falls back, opens at spring 30 the circuits or the magnet 11 and the magnet 201. These magnets fall back, the former to advance the wipers 221-224, of the switch DS, one step.

- Since the key K3 is operated, spring 55 has removed ground from the contact engaged by wiper 221 when that wiper has taken one step, and the circuit for the relay 203 will, therefore, remain open, and the switches DS and SS will stop upon the contacts which are one step from the home position and associated with circuit 1. When wiper 224 associates itself with the contact of circuit 1, a circuit is closed from the Y bus-bar through wiper 224, conductor 123, throughlthe lamp 80A, to the N bus-bar, lighting that lamp to a prise the dis atcher of the fact that t e switches are a igned upon the contacts of circuit 1. Relays 201 and 203 and magnet 204 have come to rest deenergized and after a brief interval relays 12, 13, and 202 deenergize. The control conductor'120 is now connected through wiper 222, conductor 119, spring 67 and its break contact, conductor 118, springs 225, through the winding of polarized relay 205 to the Y bus-bar. It was previously assumed that the switching device 244 was in its closed circuit position, and the key K4 was accordingly thrown upward corresponding thereto. With the key K4 thrown up, the N bus-bar potential is connected through resistance 21, springs 66, springs 57 to the conductor 120, to cause current to flow over the above traced circuit through relay 205 to operate the spring 230 to the left, closing a circuit from the Y bus-bar throu h springs 238, springs 230, conductor 263, to t e winding of one of the operating magnets in device 244. The closing of this circuit is without particular effect at this time, as the energized magnet is the magnet which closes the device 244 which is assumed to be closed. The dispatcher, upon desiring to open the device, operates the key K4 in the opposite div rection, opening springs 57 and 58 and closing springs 59 and 60. When springs 57 and 58 are opened relay 205 deenergizes and armature 230 falls back to its normal position. When spring 60 of key K4 is closed, a circuit is closed from the P bus-bar through resistance 16, springs 68, conductor 133, springs 60, to conductor 120 and thence over the previously traced circuit through'magnet 20 5, energizing that magnet in the direction to close the circuit from springs 230 to conductor 264, current flowing over that circuit throu h the magnet of device 244 which opens that evice. The operation of key K4 to close springs 59 and closes a circuit for the lamp W traceable from the P bus-bar through resistance '19, conductor 136, springs 59, through the lamp 80W, conductor 137, through springs 69 now in engagement with its right-hand contact, conductor 135, through resistance 20 to the Y bus-bar. The lamp 80W lights over this circuit. Accordingly the lamp 80R and the lamp 80W are both lighted, the former to indicate the switching devices in its closed position and the latter to indicate that a chan e is about to take place. As soon as the switc ing device 244 changes its position, at spring 245 it opens the chain circuit of relay 210 momentarily, that relay upon fallin back closes ,a point invthe circuit of relay 209, accomplishing no useful purpose at this time, since the switch SS is out of its home position. Device 244 operates spring, 246, to disconnect conductor 266 from the N us-bar and to connect it to the P bus-bar through the resistance 250 and conductor 268, closing a circuit from that conductor through spring 246, conductor 266, wiper 227 now engaging that conductor,

c'onductor 260, wiper 223, conductor 122,

through the winding of relay 14 to the Y busbar, energizing the relay 14 which operates its spring 69 away from its right-hand contact and closes a circuit through its left-hand contact. If the device 244 is of the nature of a circuit breaker or of some other quick acting device, relay 14 will be operated before the light 80W has had time to light up to full brilliancy. The operation of sprin 69 short circuits the lamp 80R by applying bus-bar voltage to both its terminals over circuits from P bus-bar through resistance 19, upper terminallamp 80R, through the lamps 80R, conductor 137, spring 69 and its left-hand contact, conductor 136 back to the P bus-bar. The application of P bus-bar voltage to conductor 137 short circuits the lamp 80W since the key K4 is operated to close springs 59, and closes a circuit for the lamp 80G traceable from that bus-bar voltage on conductor 137 through the lower terminal lamp 80G,

conductor 135 throu h resistance 20 to the Y bus-bar. According y, the lamp 80G is lighted to indicate to the dispatcher that the switchin device 244 has completed its operation an is in its open circuit position. This completes the dispatchers operation of the (lattice 244 and accordingly he restores the ke K3, which applies Y bus-potential throug springs 55, conductor 116 to the bank contact engaged by wiper 221, closing the previously traced circuit for relay-203, causing that relay to energize preparatory to advancing the switch SS and the switch DS one ste If all of the selecting keys, such as key 5 etc.,

are in a normal position, wiper 221 will encounter grounded contacts until its reaches the home position. Accordingly, switches DS and SS will operate in a buzzer-like fashion until they have positioned their wipers in their respective home positions.

Automatic 'supemrieion the dispatcher had the selecting switches DS and SS out of their. normal position, the switching device 247 changed its position. The chain, circuit. of relay 210 would be opened, but since the wi er 227 is not in its home position, the functlon to be performed by that relay would be revented. When the dlspatcher released his ey K3 to rmit the sw tches DS and SS to return to t eir home positions, these switches would step until they encountered the contacts associated with the device 247. Wiper 227 of the switch SS as it is being stepped along tests the sition'of each device. If a device is in t e position corresponding to the setting of the control keys associated therewith, the potential picked up by the wiper 227 will operate the.

supervisory relay 15, for exam le, the same direction as it is already set, wit out any particular efi'ect. Assuming that device 247 has changed. position when wiper 227 encounters the contact to which conductor 271 is connected, it will pick up P bus-bar potential instead of N bus-bar potential, closing a.

. contacts associated with the device 24 The deener 'zation of relay 4 closes at rings 35 a circuit from the N bus-bar, throug springs 35, winding of relax to the Y bus-bar, ener-" gizing'that relay, lay 2, upon energizing, closes the obvious circuit for relay 3, energizin that relay to close the obvious circuit for t e relay 4. Relay 4 upon falling back also closes at s rin 33 a circuit from grounded Y busar, through the winding of I magnet to the P bus-bar, energizin the magnet 10 which resses the ribbon o the printin recorder own against the t to record t e time and circuitnumber of t e device being supervised. It will be understood that during the stepping of switches DS and SS, the circuit recording'wheel of the recorder 22 is stepped in synchronism by the action of the magnet 11, so that the record printed on the tape will give the number of the circuit of the supervised device, in addition to the date and time of operatlon. The o eration of springs 71 short circuits the c osedposition lamp 81R, circuit traceable from the P bus-bar through resistance 18 to the upper terminal of lam 80R through the lamp, to conductor 140, t rough spring 71 now engaging with its left hand contact, con

ductor 139 back to the resistance 18. The operation of springs 71 also closes a circuit for the white lamp 81W, that circuit being traceable from grounded 'Y bus-bar through redispatcher thata change has taken place on that circuit. The green lam 81G is also lighted from a circuit traceab e from resistance 17, conductor 143, through the upper terminal oflamp 81G, through the lamp to conductor 140 to spring 71 and its left-hand contact, conductor 139 throu h the resistance 18, .to the P bus-bar. The ispatcher, upon notin that the white and green lamps of the circuit are lighted, will note that the switching device controlled thereby has moved to its out position. K6 was set to the closed or upper position, he will move that key to the position corresponding to the lamp signals, that is to the out sition. When the dispatcher operates key 6 to open springs 62 and 63 and to close springs 64 'and 65, he short circuits the white lamp over circuits traceable from P bus' b ar through resistance 18, through spring 64 and its make contact to the upper terminal of lamp 81W, through the lamp to conductor 140, through spring 71 and its left-hand contact, conductor 139, through resistance 18 to the P bus-bar, Accordingly, lamp 81W is extinguished and the supervisory equipnjient is in position indicative of the position? of the device at the substation; When relay 4 is again energized as explained above, the i111- pulsing circuit is closed at springs 36, and the circuit of the printing magnet is opened at sprin 33. Switches DS and SS and the'circur recorder of the printing recorder, are accordingly stepped onward until the wipersreach their respective home posltions.

Automatic supervision with selecting switches in how; position Assume now that the switches DS and SS have reaches their home position before the switching device 247 changed its position. When spring 248 of the device 247 opens the chain c1rcu1t of relay 210, that relay fell back and closed a circuit from the Y busbar, through springs 235, through the winding of relay 209, conductor 270, wiper 227 now engaging the contacts to which said conductor is connected, conductor 260, wiper 223 and its home position contacts, conductor 113, springs 51, conductor 127, through the winding of relay 6 to the P bus-bar. Relays 209 and 6 energize over this circuit. Relay 209 upon energizing locks itself through springs 233, through the P bus-bar to relay 6 over the circuit just traced, and at springs 232 closes a point in the chain circuit to deenergized relay 210, that relay energizing as soon as spring 248 has reached its fully operated position. Relay 6 upon energizing closes at Since the key 7 springs a circuit from the Y bus-bar, the conductor 117, home position and contact and wiper 221 of the switch DS, through springs 220 and conductor 115 to the relay 203, energizing that relay to start the steppin operation of switches DS and SS. Switc es DS and SS will buzz aroun in a step-by-ste manner until the contacts associated wit device 247 are encountered, at which time the dispatcherofthe blownfuse. Returning the diflerence of polarit will be picked u by wiper 227 and the po arized relay 15 wi operate in the above described manner to open the chain circuit of relay 4, permitting that relay to fall back and openthe impulsing circuit. at springs 36 and close the printing recording circuit as mentioned before.

The operation of relay 15 also changes the si al lamps 81 to indicate the new position 0 device 247, lighting the white lamp 81W to call the dispatchers attention to the change. Switches DS, SS and the circuit number wheel 25 of the printing recorder will accordingly be stop ed and the record of the circuit chan e ma e. The dispatcher upon noting the w ite lamp will operate the key in the manner hereinbefore explained and supervision will be complete after which the switches DS and SS will step on into their normal position.

Fuse blows at substation Adjacent to the springs 281 is the alarm bus bar which normally carries no potential. Connected tothe bus-bar 282 is the upper winding of the relay 206, and connected to the lower winding of the relay 206 is the signal bus-bar 287. If, for example, the fuse blows out, spring 281 moves over and establishes a connection between the main battery bus-bar 280 and the alarm bus-bar 282, thereby closing a circuit from the Y bus-bar through spring 254, through the upper winding of relay 206, through the alarm bus-bar 282, through springs 281, to the'battery busbar 280. Relay 206 energizes over this circuit and at spring 228 closes a circuit traceable from the ,Y bus-bar through spring 254, through the lower winding of relay 206, through the winding of relay 207, through springs 228 and thence to battery through alarm bus-bar 282. Relay 207 energizes over this circuit for a purpose which will be explained presently. The energization of relay 206 opens springs 229 thereby opening the circuit over which relay 8 of the dispatchers winding of relay 7 to the P bus-bar. Relay 7 energizes over this circuit and at springs 41 closes the obvious circuit for the audible alarm, causing this alarm to ring to apprisenow to the substation, relay 207 upon pulling up opens the circuit 'ust traced, through the upper winding of re ay 206, causing that relay to deenergize. Relay 206 upon its deenergizing again closes a circuit for relay 8, causing t at relay to ener ize and open the circuit of relay 7. Relay falls back afteran interval and opens the circuit of the audible alarm. Relay 206 upon deenergizing opens the circuit of relay 207, rmitting that relay to fall back after a de nite interval. When relay 207 falls back, the circuit is again completed for relay 206 and that relay energizes to restart the above described cycle of operation. Accordingly, the audible signal at the dispatchers ofiice will be intermittently operated by theblowing of a fuse at the substation, to apprise the dispatcher of the condition.

Fuse blows at dispatohers station.

The battery supplied for the dispatchers station is carried through a similar fuse arrangement, to provide supervision of blown fuses. In case the fuse 94 blows, the spring 93 connects the alarm bus-bar to the main busbar closing the circuit from the initial busbar 95 to the left-hand windin of relay 9, alarm bus-bar 91, spring 93, to t e main busbar 90. Relay 9 energizes over this circuit and at spring 42 closes the obvious circuit for the audible alarm causing that signal to operate to apprise the dispatcher of the blown fuse. It will be seen that a blown fuse at a dispatchers station will cause the audible signal to be continuously operated.

Audible alarm for automatic wperoisz'oa It ma happen that the dispatchers duties require im to be away from the control cabinet, and therefore makes it necessary that audible alarm be given whenever a circuit breaker or the like changes its position at the substation. I have provided the key comprising springs 50 for this purpose. When the dispatcher desires to set the audible signal, he 0 erates this key to close springs 50. When re ay 6 is operated responsive to the 0 eration of relays 209 and 210, as explained a ve, it closes the obvious circuit for relay 5 at springs 39. Since relay 6 closes the stepping circuit of magnet 201 of switch DS, and since the circuit of relay 6 is opened when wiper 223 disenga es its home position contact, relay 6 soon f alls back, opening the circuit from the Y bus-bar through the ma cuit of relay 5. Relay. 5 upon energizing closes throu h springs'37 the obvious circuit for the audi le alarm. Normally the alarm is not sounded, since relay 5 is only momen' tarily operated. However, when key springs 50 are closed, relay 5 locks itself through those s rings; springs 38 and conductor 130 to the Y bus-bar, and consequentl remains ener ized after relay 6 restores, an the audible a arm is sounded continuously.

Manual control of substation It may happen that during an emergency a substation can best be controlled locally. Accordingly, I have made provisions whereby an attendant at the substation can isolate any device from the control of the dispatcher, and control it. I have also provided lam signals to a prise the attendant of the position of the evice he chooses to control. For example, if the attendant desires to control device 244, he operates the key associated therewith to 0 en springs 238 and to close springs 239. he oeration of springs 238 removes the Y busar potential from the main spring 230 of control relay 205, so that even though the dispatcher operates that relay, he cannot operate the device 244. The operation of springs 239 closes a point in the circuit of supervisory lamps 252. If the device 244' is in its closed position as assumed before, lam 252R will be lighted over a circuit from t e N bus-bar, through resistance 251, conductor 269, spring 246, conductor 266, through 5 ring 239, through lamp 252Rto the P busar. Lamp 252G is short circuited since it has N bus-bar potential on both of its terminals. To open the device 244 the attendant 0 rates s rings 237 closing a circuit fromtll eYbusar throu lithema net which opens the device. To 0 ose the evice, the attendant operates springs 236, closing a ciret which closes the device. The operation 0 device 244 from its closed to its open position moves springs 245 and 246 from their respective upper contacts to their lower contacts. The operation of spring 246 disconnects the conductor 266 from the N bus-bar and con nects it to the P bus-bar to alter the above traced circuits so that the'lamp 252R is short circuited and the lamp 252G is lighted to inform the attendant that the device 244 has properly operated It should be noted that the o eration of springs 238 and 239 removes the evice 244 from the control of the dispatcher, but does not remove the deviceffrom' the supervision of the dispatcher. When the device 244 was moved by the attendant at the substation, chainof relay 210 was opened by springs 245, and that relay instigated the automatic supervision in the manner hereinbefore explained, changing the si nal light at the dispatcher; station 'to con orm.-w1th the new position ohthe switching device.

Realz'gm'ng DS and SS aligned at all times. When the switches are in their home position, if they are properly aligned, relay 8 is energized, and the signal lamp 82 is lighted in a manner hereinbefore pointed out. If for any reason the switches get out of step, the attendant at the dis atchers station will beapprised of the fact y the failure of the lamp 82. It will then be necessary for him to realign the switches before the system can properly operate. To do this, he manually sets t e switch DS in its home position, either by directly operating the armature of the switch, or by manually operat- P in the relay 1. The latter method is preferab 6, inasmuch as it not only sets the switch DS upon its home position, but also kee s the recor ing disk 25in step with the switc DS. After the dispatcher has operated the relay 1 a suflicient number of times to bring the devices into their normal position, he operates the key K1, to perform the following functions: At springs 51 a point in the circuit of relay 6 is opened, to revent that relay operating at this time. t s ringsr52 a point is opened in the circuit of relays 12 and 13, thereby preventing those relays from operatin to prevent the ground returned over con uctor 118 from 0 rating the relay 1 and stepping the switch K1 prepares a point in an auxi iary stepping circuit, which clrcuit is used for aligning puroses only. The dispatcher then operates the ey K2, closing a circuit for the Y bus-bar,

through springs 54, springs 53, conductor 115,

through t e winding of relay 203 to the P bus-bar at the substation. Relay 203 energizes over this circuit,closing the obvious circuit for the relay 202 and the magnet 204. Magnet 204 energizes, and at springs 212 closes a return circuit from the Y bus-bar over conductor 118, that circuit being without effeet at this time since relay 13 is deenergized. Ma net 204 prepares to advance the wipers of t 'eswitch SS one step. The dispatcher releases the key K2, permitting the relay 203 and the magnet 204 to deenergize, thereby advancing the wipers of the station selector SS one step. The dispatcher will hold key K1 operated, and operate key K2, as many times S. At s rings 52, key

Telephone service With switch DS and switch SS both in their home position, magneto telephone service between the dis atchers station and the substation is possib e over a circuit from the terminal of telephone T1 to conductor 110, through supervisory devices corresponding the home position and wi r 222, conductor 119, through spring 67 an its break contact,

conductor 118, through spring 225, through wiper 226 and its home ositlon, conductor 27 4, through telephone conductor 270, through wiper 227 now in its home position, conductor 260, wiper 223 and its home position, to the telephone T1.

While I have chosen to show my invention in connection with a particular type of apparatus, it will be understood that I have done' so merely by way of example, and as there are modifications and adaptations which can be made by one skilled in the art without departin' from the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I consider new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent is pointed out in the appended claims: 1 1

1. In a recording system, a selective switch having access to a plurality of switching devices, a second selecting swtitch having access to a plurality of supervisory devices, said to said switching devices and normally indicating the operated or non-operated condition of said switching devices, a printing recording mechanism comprising a designation disc and an operating'Xmagnet therefor, means for simultaneously operating said selective switches to select a particular switching device and the supervisory equipment associated therewith, and for simultaneously operating said designation disc to set said recording mechanism accordingly, means for then operating said switching device, and means responsive to the operation of said switching device for adjusting said supervisory equipment to correspond therewith and for operating said printng record to make a record thereof.

2. In a recording system, a pair of step- I by-step selecting switches having wipers and first of said switches to designate the occu- I pied (position of that device, means controlle by a change in position of one of said devices for altering the potential on themdividual contact associated therewith in accordance with the new position of said device and for starting the steppin of said switches' and recording disc, means or operating the corresponding polarized relay when the wiper of said first switch encounters the individual contact with said altered potential. and means responsive to the operation of said polarized relay .to momentarily said switches and disc and to operate said recorder to print the number of the device a which changed its position and the date and time of the change.

3. In a recording system, a recorder, an automatic step-by-step switch and a plurality of contacts accessible thereto, means whereby either a first potential or a second different potential is connected to said contacts, the contacts with said first and second potentials being promiscuously interspersed, means for operating said switch step-by-step over said contacts, means for operating said recorder in synchronism with said switch, and means for stopping said switch on a certain contact only in case the potential on said certain contact has been changed from one potential to the other to operate said recorder to make a record.

' 4. In a recording system, a recorder, an automatic step-by-step switch and a plurality of contacts accessible thereto, 'means whereby either a first potential or a second difierent potential is connected to said contacts, the contacts with said first'and second potentials being promiscuousl interspersed, means for o erating sai switch step-by-step over sai contacts, means for operating said recorder in synchronism with said switch, and means for operating said recorder to make a record onl switch encounters contacts w ich have had in case said their potentials changed from onepotential to the other.

5. In a recording system, a recorder, an automatic switch and a plurality of contacts accessible thereto, two different sources of potentials, means whereb either one potential or the other potential is connected to each of said contacts, the contacts with said difierentdpotentials being promiscuously in-' tersperse means for operating said switch to test said contacts insuccesslve cycles of operations, said switch passing over some 0 said contacts having one potential connected thereto and stopping on other contacts having the same potential connected thereto in case the other potential was connected to said other contacts on the preceding cycle of operation, and means for 0 crating said recorder in unison with sai switch, and means for operating said recorder to make records only in case said switchstops on said other contacts.

6. In a recording system, a recorder, an automatic switch and a plurality of contacts accessible thereto, two different sources of potentials, means whereby either one potenfrom one potential to the other since the preceding cycle of operation.

7. In a recording system, a recorder, a switch having a switch bank and a wiper therefor, a plurality of switching devices, a plurality of keys, each one of which corresponds to one of said devices, a contact for each key in said switch bank, a home positlon contact in said switch bank, a set of springs in each key having one of such springs connected to said home position contact, another set of springs in each key having one of such springs connected, respectively, to individual ones of said contacts, means res onsive to the operation of any one of sai the operation of said switch and said recorder by way of said home position contact, for continuing the operation of said switch and said recorder responsive to said switch wiper engaging the individual contacts connected to the unoperated keys and for stopping said switch and recorder responsive to the switch wiper encountering the individual contact connected to the operated key, means for op erating the switching device corresponding to the operated key, and means responsive to the operation of said device for operating the recorder to make a record of such operations.

8. In a recording system, a recorder, a plurality of switching devices adapted for automatic operation responsive to power changes, a switch having a position corresponding to each device, a chain circuit extending through all said devices, means responsive to the operation of any one of said devices for momentarily interrupting said chain circuit, means operated responsive to the interruption in said chain circuit for initiating the operation of said switch and recorder, means for continuing the operation of said switch and keys forv operating the first set of springs to initiate for comp recorder, another chain circuit associated with said recorder, and means operated responsive to said switch reaching the position corresponding to the operated device for momentarily interrupting said other chain circuit and means for stop ing said switch and recorder and for operatlng said recorder to make a record corresponding to the operated device responsive to the momentary interruption in said other chain circuit.

'9. In a recording system, a recorder, a plurality of switching devices adapted for automatic operation responsive to power changes, said recorder having a position corresponding to each device, means responsive to the operation of any one of said devices for initiating the operation of said recorder, means for continuing the operation of said recorder step-by-step, means for stopping said recorder responsive to said recorder reaching a position corresponding to the operated device, and means for operating said .recorder to make a record of the operation.

10. In a recording system, a recorder, a plurality of switching devices adapted for automatic operation responsive to power changes, said recorder having a position corresponding to each device, means responsive to the operation of any one of said devices for initiating the operation of said recorder, means for continuing the operation of said recorder step-by-step, a chain circuit associated with said recorder, means operated responsive to said recorder reaching a position corresponding to the operated device for momentarily interrupting said chain circuit, and means operated responsive to said momentary interruption for operating said recorder to make a record of the operation.

11. In a recordin second switch each aving a stepping magnet for advancing the switches one step on each 'deener ization thereof, a recorder having a recording disc and a stepping magnet for advancing the disc on each deenergiza- 110 tion thereof, means for energizing the magnet of the first switch, a circuit for energizing the magnet ofthe recorder and the magnet of the second switch, means responsive to each energization of said first switch magnet 115 eting said circuit to energize the magnets of the recorder and second switch,

said first means operated responsive to each a said switches, means for changing the battery potential on certain ones of said contacts, means operated responsive to an en- 13 system, a first and a countered change of battery potential on particular ones of said contacts when said switches are advanced thereto to prevent further operation of said switches, and means for operating said recorder to make a' record of the changed tential responsive to the operation of said ast means. 12. ha recording s stem, a first and a second switch, a plurality of contacts accessible to said switches, a stepping ma et for each switch for advancing said switc es into engagement with successive ones of said contacts, a recorder having a recording disc, 8. steppin magnet for advancing said disc, means or energizing the magnet of thefirst switch, a circuit for energizlng the magnet of the second switch and the magnet of said recorder, a relay operatedresponsive to each energization of. said first switch magnet for conpleting said circuit to energize the recor er magnet and the second switchmagnet, said means operated responsive to each energization of the second switch magnet for deenergizing said first switch magnet and said relay operated responsive to each deenergization of said first switch magnet to open said-circuit to deenergize the second switch magnet and the recorder magnet whereby the switches and disc are advanced step-by-step, means for changing the battery potential on certain ones of said contacts, and a second relayroperated responsive to(an encountered change of battery potential on particular ones of said contacts when said switches are positioned thereon to prevent further operation of said switches and to o erate said recorder to make a record 0 the changed potential.

13. In a recording system, a first and a second switch each having a stepping magnet for advancing the switches one step on each deenergization thereof, a recorder having a recording disc and astepfing magnet for advancing the disc on each eenergization thereof, means for energizing the magnet-of the first switch, a circuit for energizing the magnet of the recorder and the magnet of the second'switch, means responsive to each ener- 'gization of said first switch magnet for completing said circuit to energize the m ets of the recorder and second switch, sai first I means oplerated responsive to each ener a- Y for deenergizing said first switch magnet and said second means operativeresponsiveto each said first switch magnet to tion of t e magnetof said second switc d. I. a iza tion 0 open said circuit to deenergize the second switch magnet and the recorder 'ma et whereby the first and second switches an the disc are each advanced step-by-step, aplurality of contacts accessible to said switches,

means for changin thebattery potential on certain ones ofv sai contacts, a polarized relay operated responsive to an encountered change of battery potential on particular ones of said contacts when said switches are advanced thereto, and a normally energized relay deenergized responsive to the energization of the polarized rela to prevent further operation of said switc es and to operate said recorder to make a record of the changed potential.

14. In a recording system, two selecting switches each having a stepping magnet, a recorder having a stepping magnet, means for energizing the magnet associated with the first of said switches, means controlled by said magnet for energizing the magnet associated with the second of said switches and the magnet associated with said recorder, means controlled by the energization of said second magnet for deenergizing all of said magnets, means for operating said switches and recorder one step responsive to the deenergizetion of their respective magnets, means for reenergizing said first magnet independent of said first means, said second magnet and recorderma etthereb reener zed res nsive to the reenergization of the rst magnet and 

